<p class="title">Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson declared his side were still in the race for a place in the World Cup last 16 despite Friday's 2-0 loss to Nigeria.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Iceland's fate is no longer in their own hands, however, as Nigeria will join Croatia as qualifiers from Group D if they beat Argentina on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But any other result in that match could see Iceland squeeze through with a victory against familiar opponents Croatia at the same time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Iceland went through ahead of Croatia in UEFA qualifying to reach Russia while the Eastern Europeans needed a playoff to secure their place.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's a strange fact that we are still in the race," Hallgrimsson told reporters after the match. "We didn't think we would go through this World Cup without a loss and losses are always difficult to swallow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have to hail my players, they gave everything, they tried what they could but it was just not our day in so many ways."</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said he had been impressed with the Luka Modric-inspired side, who are already through from Group D thanks to a stunning 3-0 win over Argentina on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We only need to beat Croatia," he said with a smile. "Which is possibly easier to say than do.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We've played Croatia four times in four years and we've often said we're like a married couple trying to get divorced but we always meet up again.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They have had two really, really good performances in the World Cup. The last one was a shining example of how good Croatia is."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Croatia sit pretty with six points at the top of Group D. Nigeria are second on three points while Iceland and Argentina have just one point apiece from their opening 1-1 draw, though Lionel Messi's side are bottom on goal difference.</p>
<p class="title">Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson declared his side were still in the race for a place in the World Cup last 16 despite Friday's 2-0 loss to Nigeria.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Iceland's fate is no longer in their own hands, however, as Nigeria will join Croatia as qualifiers from Group D if they beat Argentina on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But any other result in that match could see Iceland squeeze through with a victory against familiar opponents Croatia at the same time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Iceland went through ahead of Croatia in UEFA qualifying to reach Russia while the Eastern Europeans needed a playoff to secure their place.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's a strange fact that we are still in the race," Hallgrimsson told reporters after the match. "We didn't think we would go through this World Cup without a loss and losses are always difficult to swallow.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have to hail my players, they gave everything, they tried what they could but it was just not our day in so many ways."</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said he had been impressed with the Luka Modric-inspired side, who are already through from Group D thanks to a stunning 3-0 win over Argentina on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We only need to beat Croatia," he said with a smile. "Which is possibly easier to say than do.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"We've played Croatia four times in four years and we've often said we're like a married couple trying to get divorced but we always meet up again.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They have had two really, really good performances in the World Cup. The last one was a shining example of how good Croatia is."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Croatia sit pretty with six points at the top of Group D. Nigeria are second on three points while Iceland and Argentina have just one point apiece from their opening 1-1 draw, though Lionel Messi's side are bottom on goal difference.</p>